Category: Prisoners

Three Christian Converts Sentenced to a Total of 15 Years in Prison and a Fine

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Freedom of Expression, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alireza Nourmohammadi, Amin Khaki, Christian converts, Christianity, Citizens arrested, Citizens detained, Karaj, Milad Goodarzi, Religious persecution

Amin Khaki, Milad Goodarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi were sentenced by the Fourth Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj to five years each in prison and a fine of 40 million tomans.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the website Article 18 , the three christian converts were sentenced for “Propaganda and educational activities contrary to the holy Sharia of Islam”.

The citizens had been released on bail of 250 million tomans each in November 2020 after being summoned to judicial authorities and filing a case.

Despite the fact that Christians are recognized as a religious minority under Iranian law, the security services nevertheless pursue the issue of Muslims converting to Christianity with particular sensitivity and deal harshly with activists in this field.

The Iranian regime targets Christian converts despite Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which state that every individual has the right to freedom of religion and belief and freedom to express it openly or secretly.

Mohammad Taher Soleimani Executed in Mahabad Prison

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Executions, Prisoners
Abdollah Machkuri, Capital Punishment, Citizen executed, Citizen execution, Citizen executions, Death Penalty, Death row, Death sentence, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Province, Mahabad, Mohammad Taher Soleimani, Soleimani

Yesterday, June 30, Mohammad Taher Soleimani was executed in Mahabad Prison in Kurdistan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Kurdpa, Soleimani had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.

Mohammad Taher Soleimani was 65 years old and from Dizaj village in Margavar Rural District of Urmia County in West Azerbaijan Province.

Mr. Soleimani was transferred to solitary confinement on June 29, and his family was summoned to Mahabad Prison for their final visit.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1st and  December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions.”

Soleimani’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.

 

Lawyer Says Mohammad Nourizad is in Critical Condition in Evin Prison

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Environment, Prisoners
Aghasi, Ali Nourizad, Evin, Evin Prison, Greater Tehran Prison, Hunger Strike, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Mohammad Nourizad, Nourizad, Tehran

Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Mohammad Nourizad‘s lawyer, told HRANA that his client is in critical condition in Evin Prison and that the duration of his hunger and drug strike has put him in serious danger.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Aghasi emphasized that his client has lost 55 pounds and is experiencing severe hearing loss.

Aghasi stated that although the prison prosecutor recently agreed to send him on leave, Nourizad has refused the offer, stating that he will continue his strike until his request for his and his son’s unconditional release is fulfilled.

Ali Nourizad, Mohammed’s son, was arrested by security forces in Tehran in January 2020 for protesting a rally against the downing of a Ukrainian plane by the IRGC, and for expressing sympathy with the victims’ families.  He was released on bail a month later. The Tehran Revolutionary Court eventually sentenced him to 3 and a half years in prison. This sentence was upheld by the Tehran Court of Appeals. He has been serving out his sentence in Greater Tehran since October of last year.

Mr. Nourizad wants to be acquitted of all charges that were unjustly issued against him.

Mr. Aghasi added: “I really demand that the case of Mr. Nourizad and other people, who are known as the signatories of the leadership resignation statement from whom 11 are my clients, to be processed and judged by a fully independent judiciary so they can see how arguments about the convictions and issued sentences are completely incorrect.”

Earlier this year, UN experts expressed concern over the health condition of Mohammad Nourizad in Evin Prison and called for his immediate release.

66-year-old Nourizad is an Iranian director, screenwriter, journalist, and activist. Nourizad became an outspoken critic of the Islamic Republic a decade ago and has since been arrested and imprisoned several times for his civic work and visits to families of political prisoners.

As Mr. Aghasi stated, Nourizad has been wounding himself every day as a sign of objection; he has fainted 37 times. According to Aghasi, his conversations with his client and even the insistence of Nourizad’s wife and child did not work, and it seems that he has made his decision.

“I do not want my name to be on the list of those who are indifferent to current affairs,” Nourizad has said in a meeting with his lawyer. “And I am willing to give my life for it.”

Eight Year Prison Sentence Upheld for Baha’i Citizen and Women’s Motocross Champion Shahrzad Nazifi

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Prisoners, Religious Minorities, Women
Baha'i, Baha'i arrests in Iran, Baha'i citizen arrested, Baha'i citizens imprisoned, baha'i in iran, Baha'i women in Iran, Nazifi, Sentenced in absentia, Shahrzad Nazifi, Women's Motocross

After approving an appeal hearing, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran upheld an eight year prison sentence for Baha’i citizen and women’s motocross champion Shahrzad Nazifi.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Nazifi was previously sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison, 4 hours of community service a day for 3 months, and a 2-year ban on leaving the country.

Nazifi was arrested on charges of “managing illegal groups and factions with the aim of disrupting the security of the country” and “bad motives and internal desire to destroy the religious system”.

Unofficial sources estimate that more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

The deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

14 Economic Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 450 Lashes in Sistan and Baluchestan

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Prisoners
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Mehdi Shamsabadi, Shamsabadi, Sistan and Baluchestan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Zahedan

Zahedan Public Prosecutor and Revolutionary Council Mehdi Shamsabadi  announced the issuance of 450 lashes for 14 economic defendants in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting IRNA, Shamsabadi stated that this case is one of the most important economic crimes cases in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

The 14 defendants were sentenced to a total of 450 lashes, 184 years in prison, fines of Three billion and three hundred and two million Toman (about $132,000,00), and confiscation of property.

Iran is one of the few countries that has continued to use humiliating punishments despite the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’ explicit prohibition of the use of inhumane and degrading punishments, including the death penalty and flogging.

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Baha’i Citizens Sina Kamali and Dorsa Dehghani Still in Detention in Shiraz

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Prisoners, Religious Minorities, Women
Baha'i, Baha'i citizens, baha'i citizens arrested, Dehghani, Dorsa Dehghani, irgc, Sarvestani, Shiraz, Sina Kamali Sarvestani

After 14 days, Baha’i citizens Dorsa Dehghani and Sina Kamali Sarvestani are still in detention in an unknown location in Shiraz.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the citizens were arrested separately on June 15 by IRGC intelligence agents.

A source close to their families said that Dehghani and Sarvestani have made a brief calls and spoken with their families but are being interrogated under psychological and physical pressure. The lack of accountability of the security agencies about their condition and whereabouts has caused increasing concern from their families.

Darsa Dehghani was treated for a medical problem before his detention, but he has not had access to his medications since being arrested.

According to unofficial sources, more than 300,000 Baha’is live in Iran, but the Iranian constitution recognizes only Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Because their faith is not considered legitimate by authorities, the rights of Baha’is in Iran have been systematically violated for years.

This deprivation of the freedom to practice their religion is a violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The United Nations covenant holds that every person has the right to freedom of religion, freedom of converting religion, as well as freedom of expression, individually or collectively; openly or secretly.

 

Alireza Farshi Transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to Loghman Hakim Hospital

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Ethnic Minorities, Prisoners
Ahmad Zargar, Alireza Farshi, Alireza Farshi Dizaj Yakan, Azerbaijani Turk activist, East Azerbaijan, Judge Babaei, Loghman, Loghman Hospital

On Tuesday, June 29th, Azerbaijani Turk activist Alireza Farshi Dizaj Yakan was finally transferred to a hospital after facing prolonged medical negligence in the Greater Tehran Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Mr. Farshi, who was in the midst of a 2 year sentence in the Greater Tehran Prison, was sentenced last month to an additional four years and two months by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
Farshi has suffered from high blood sugar, an infection in his left eye, and numbness in his right hand. The lack of proper treatment of the prisoner’s diabetes has caused tremors in his body. He was eventually transferred to the endocrinology and metabolism department of Loghman Hakim Hospital for medical examinations and tests.
Alireza Farshi is from Marand City in East Azerbaijan. He has a master’s degree in computer engineering from Sharif University of Technology.
Mr. Farshi, while serving a two-year sentence in the Greater Tehran Prison, was recently sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to a total of over 4 more years. On February 27, Farshi’s interrogation session was held virtually in the Third Branch of Evin Court. He was informed of the meeting less than 12 hours before it was set to take place.
The verdicts issued in June of this year were upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Ahmad Zargar .
The Azerbaijani Turk activist suffered eye injuries during his time in prison and was sent on a three-day medical leave from Greater Tehran Prison on Saturday, May 7. But  despite the insistence of his ophthalmologist on the urgent need for eye surgery on this prisoner, prison officials refused to extend his leave.
The report does not specify Farshi’s current condition in Loghman Hakim Hospital.
 

Death Sentence Issued in Tehran

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Executions, Prisoners
Branch 11 of the First Criminal Court of Tehran Province, Citizen sentenced to death, Death sentence, Execution, First Criminal Court of Tehran Province, Tehran, Tehran Province

A defendant in Tehran was sentenced to death by Branch 11 of the First Criminal Court of Tehran Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna news, the man was sentenced on charges of rape and assault.

According to the report, in November 2020, a young woman named Melika went to the police with her husband and filed a rape case against a young man named Taha, who had previously been her neighbor.

After the case was heard in court and consulting, the judges sentenced the defendant to death based on the evidence found in the case.

Political Prisoner Kamran Ghasemi Insulted and Beaten by Officers During Family Visitation in Urmia Prison

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Prisoners
Ghasemi, Kamran Ghasemi, Mistreatment of prisoners, Political Prisoners, Urmia, Urmia prison, West Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan Province

On June 26, political prisoner Kamran Ghasemi was beaten by prison officers after objecting to the inappropriate treatment of his family by the agents during their visitation in Urmia Prison in West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human rights Activists, Kamran Ghasemi has spent the past two years in the detention facilities of security institutions and Urmia Prison. He was transferred from the youth to the political ward of Urmia Prison in May this year.

“Officers beat Mr. Ghasemi in front of his family, then kicked him out in a very inappropriate manner,” a source close to the family said. “After other political prisoners protested this incident, in response, the chief of prison transferred 15 inmates of violent crimes under his command to the door of the political prisoners and threatened that protesters will be dealt with, in case of any objection. Amir Sohrabi, the director of Urmia Prison, uses such methods to prevent political prisoners from protesting.”

In November of last year, Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia sentenced Kamran Ghasemi to 10 years and 1 day in prison on charges of acting against national security by being a member of an opposition group.

At Least one Prisoner Executed in Zahedan Prison

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Executions, Prisoners
Abdolhamid Ghanbar Zehi, Citizen executions, citizen executions per-capita, Ghanbar Zehi, Sistan and Baluchestan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Zahedan Central Prison, Zahedan Prison

On June 26, Abdolhamid Ghanbar Zehi, son of Ebrahim, was executed in Zahedan Prison in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting RASANK news, Ghanbar Zehi was previously convicted on a charge of murder.

According to international organizations, Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per-capita. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) reported that between January 1st and December 20th of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary. Human rights organizations call these “secret executions”.

Ghanbar Zehi’s execution has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources at the time of this writing.